Fire-escape



UNrrEn STATES Fries.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,140, dated July 28,1885.

Application filed June 4, 1885. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY GOLLINGS, ofBeltzhoover, county of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, have invented a new andImproved Fire-Escape, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements infire-escapes which are permanently fixedin a special fire-proof shaft ina building.

The invention consists in a fire escape formed of a series of ways orchutes arranged in a shaft,one above the other, and inclined in oppositedirections.

The invention also consists in the combination of parts, as will befully set forth hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both figures.

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of my improved fire-escape. Fig. 2is adetail crosssectioual View of one chute on the line or a, Fig. 1.

In a vertical shaft, A, on the inside or outside of the building B thefire-escape is erected, and it consists of a series of inclined ways orchutes, G,which are secured to the walls or arranged between them, andare alternately inclined in opposite directions, the lower end of onechute being a short distance above the upper end of the next lowerchute. Two chutes, O, are provided for each story, one extending fromthe floor to the middle of the next story below, and the other extendingfrom the middle of the said story to the floor below, and so on. Thechutes have their upper surfaces hollowed out or recessed, and a piece,E, of carpet, canvas, or other strong fabric is secured to the sides ofthe chutes at their top edges, so as to form an elastic sup-. port. Ateach floor a door, F, is provided, which opens from the shaft and isarranged at the upper end of the chute, extending down from the floor.At the lower end of the bottom or lowest chute, O, a vertically-slidingdoor, G, is arranged to slide in a suitable recess in the wall, and thesaid door is connected with a thin cable or wire, K, extending upward onthe side of the shaft and connected by a wire, L, passing. over apulley, M, with the swinging edge of each door F. By opening any one ofthe doors Fthe wire K is pulled upward and the door G is raised. Thepersons step from the floor upon a chute, O. and

slide downthe same alternately in opposite directions, and are landed onthe ground. If desired, a sliding piece may be arranged on the bottomchute, O, in such a manner that when the door is raised the said piecewill slide out and form a continuation of the bottom chute.

In place of arranging the door in the manner sh-own,it may be hinged atits bottom edge; or it may hang on a transverse bar about onethird ofits height from the bottom in such a manner that the upper part canswing outward and downward to form a continuation of the chute, and thebottom edge can swing inward and under the carpet or canvas E.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a fire-escape, the combination, with theinclined ways or chutes 0, having their tops recessed, of the fabric E,secured on the sides of the same at the top, substantially as hereinshown and described.

2. A fire-escape consisting of a series of Ways or chutes arranged onebelow the other in a fire-proof vertical shaft and inclined alternate lyin opposite directions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a fire-escape, the combination, with the inclined chutes G, of avertically-sliding door, G, at the bottomof thelowest chute, the doorsF,'the wire K, and wires L, connecting the wire K with the severaldoors, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. In a fire-escape, the combination, with inclined chutes arranged in ashaft, of doors leading from the several floors into the shaft, a doorat the bottom of the lowest inclined chute, and of wires connecting thesaid door with the doors at the several floors, substantially as hereinshown and described.

HENRY GOLLINGS.

Witnesses:

FoREs'r WALER, GEORGE Fn 'rz.

